Aani UAE — Instant Payments Explained
What Aani is, how it works, which banks support it, and how it fits into UAE money movement.
What is Aani and how does it work?
Aani is the UAE's domestic instant payment system, operated by Al Etihad Payments (a CBUAE subsidiary) under the Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme. It enables instant AED transfers by mobile number (proxy), request-to-pay, bill splitting, and QR payments — settlement in under 10 seconds. It is domestic UAE only, AED only, with a limit of up to AED 50,000 per transaction (verify at official source). Launched October 2023. remit.ae does not integrate with Aani.
What are you trying to do?
Select your goal — we'll point you to the right information. remit.ae does not process payments.
Important: Aani is for domestic UAE payments (AED only). It cannot send money internationally. For international transfers, use an exchange house or remittance app. remit.ae does not process any payments. Disclaimer
What is Aani (آني)?
UAE domestic instant payment system
Aani is the UAE's national domestic instant payment network, operated by Al Etihad Payments (AEP) — a subsidiary of the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE). Launched in October 2023 under the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme.
Core features
- ✓Instant AED transfers using a mobile number as proxy — no IBAN required
- ✓Request-to-pay — send a payment request to a UAE contact
- ✓Bill splitting among UAE contacts
- ✓QR code payments at participating merchants
- ✓Settlement in under ~10 seconds
- ✓Transaction limit: up to AED 50,000 (verify current limit at official source)
What Aani is NOT
- ✗Not an international remittance service — Aani is domestic UAE only, AED only
- ✗Cannot send money to India, Pakistan, Philippines, or any other country
- ✗remit.ae does not integrate with Aani — remit.ae is an information platform only
- ✗remit.ae cannot initiate or process Aani payments
Initial participant institutions(source-gated — verify current list)
Source: AEP/CBUAE Aani launch documentation (October 2023). This list is not exhaustive and may have grown. Verify current status at Al Etihad Payments (aletihad.ae).
Source: Al Etihad Payments (aletihad.ae) / CBUAE (centralbank.ae). Participant list and limits as of October 2023 launch documentation. Always verify current status at official sources.
Aani vs international remittance
| Feature | Aani | International Remittance |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Domestic UAE payments | Cross-border transfers |
| Currency | AED only | Multi-currency (AED to INR/PKR/PHP etc.) |
| Destination | UAE only | India, Pakistan, Philippines, and more |
| Speed | ~10 seconds | Minutes to days (varies) |
| Providers | Participating UAE banks / exchange houses | Wise, Remitly, WU, exchange houses |
FAQ — Aani UAE
Can I use Aani to send money abroad?
No. Aani is domestic UAE only — AED within the UAE. For international transfers to India, Pakistan, the Philippines, etc., use a remittance app or exchange house.
How do I access Aani?
Through your bank app or exchange house app if your institution participates. Look for the Aani section or instant payment feature.
What is the Aani transaction limit?
Up to AED 50,000 per transaction as of October 2023 launch documentation. Verify current limit at Al Etihad Payments (aletihad.ae) or your bank.
Does remit.ae integrate with Aani?
No. remit.ae is an information and comparison platform only. We do not process any payments.
Can I use Aani as a new UAE resident?
Once you have a UAE bank account at a participating institution, yes — Aani is available via the bank app. For sending money home, use a remittance app or exchange house.